Orientation week – for successful integration of foreign students
On February 9–11, Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution organized an Orientation Week for Erasmus+ exchange students and trainees. This semester, we welcomed almost 20 students from Greece, Turkiye, Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo to our community.
On the first day, students met with Guoda, the Coordinator of the International Relations Office, who explained the Erasmus+ programme and academic rules. To help everyone feel more relaxed and comfortable, student-mentors organized fun ice-breaking games. These activities helped students get to know each other, break the initial distance, and create a warm and friendly atmosphere.
After the games, students were divided into groups based on the character-printed badges they chose. They then joined a city orientation game in Šiauliai city centre. Using a map, they searched for special figures around the city and took creative photos in front of them. The winner was not the fastest team, but the one with the most creative photos – winners received Erasmus+ hoodies.
On the second day, students attended a “Lithuanian 101” lesson to learn basic phrases and become more familiar with the local language, people, and culture. Later, they met with Donatas, a community police officer, who introduced Lithuanian laws and explained important rules of behaviour in the city. This meeting helped students feel safer and more confident.
On the third day, students participated in an intercultural communication lecture by prof. Rasa Pocevičienė, where they compared Lithuania with their home countries and shared their experiences. After the lecture, they joined an ex-libris workshop and created their own small bookplates. It was a creative and enjoyable activity that allowed them to express themselves artistically.
We hope this well-started Orientation Week will lead to a joyful, successful, and memorable semester for all our students.
